Beta-Glucan, FOS Dont Improve Appetite Control

After two days of consuming meal-replacement bars with beta-glucan and FOS, subjects appetite control did not improve (Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89(1):58-63). Researchers assessed the effects effect of fructooligosaccharide (FOS), beta-glucan or a combination on appetite ratings and food intake over two consecutive days. In the four-way balanced-order, crossover, double blind design, 21 healthy volunteers consumed a meal-replacement bar at 9:00 a.m. and an ad libitum lunch at 1:00 p.m. on two consecutive days. On day one only, the subjects consumed a second (identical) bar at 5:00 p.m. and a fixed snack at 7:00 p.m. The control bar contained 0.3 g of beta-glucan from 6.8 g oats (control), and the three equicaloric test bars contained an additional 0.9 g of beta-glucan (from 8.0 g barley), 8 g of FOS, or 0.9 g of beta-glucan + 8 g of FOS. The addition of beta-glucan, FOS or a combination did not affect appetite ratings or food intake, although the addition of beta-glucan to the bar doubled gastric viscosity. Researchers said the efficacy may have improved if the consumption period was longer, if the beta-glucan content was greater or if a different form of beta-glucan was used that generated a higher gastric viscosity.